Device for handling green tiles



(No Model.)

J.'W. LAUGHLIN. DEVICE FOR HANDLING GREEN TILES.

Patented May 14, 1889.

mnllllllllli \X/i'll'lESSEEZ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WV. LAUGl-ILIN, OF PARKVILLE, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR HANDLING GREEN TILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,276, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed January 29, 1889. Serial No. 297,956. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. LAUGHLIN, of Parkville, in the county of Ohampaign and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Handling Green Tiles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for handling green tiles; and it 0011- sists in the combination of two supportingpieces, which are made circular on their outer sides, so as to conform to the shape of the tile, and which are preferably provided with flanges upon their inner sides, connectinglinks, a central endwise-moving expandingbar, to which the inner ends of the links are secured, and a slotted stop which is rigidly secured to one of the supports, as will be more fully described.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which can be placed in a contracted position inside of a green tile and then expanded, so as to just fit the tile and thus strengthen it from its inner side, so as to enable it to be freely handled.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention, showing the parts in a contracted position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in an expanded position. Figs. 3 and 4 are end views taken from opposite ends.

A represents two supports which are made circular upon their outer sides, and which may be given any shape that is desired upon their inner ones. Formed at the center of each of the supports is a longitudinal flange, B, of any suitable shape or description, and to which the outer ends of the connectinglinks 0 are pivoted. There may be any suitable number of these links, and their length will be proportioned to the distance that the supports are to be opened outward.

Placed in between the two flanges B is an endwise-moving rod or bar, D, which is of the same thickness as the flanges B, and to which the inner ends of the conneetingdlnks are fastened. This rod or bar D has an endwise movement, as shown, for the purpose of expanding and contracting the supports and thus causing them to fit snugly inside of the green tile to which they are to be applied. hen the bar is moved in one direction, the links are moved out of line with each other to any desired angle, and when the rod is moved in the opposite direction the two supports are forced outward until the links stand in a line with each other. links are in a line, the two supports are forced outward to their greatest distance and should snugly fit against the inner side of the tile, so that it can be freely handled without inury.

In order to cause the supports to move outward in a straight line with each other and to keep them in the same relative position, a stop, G, is rigidly secured to one of the supports at one end, and the other end of the stop G projects across the opposite end ofthe other support when the device is closed. In order to attach the two supports, together by means of the stop and to have this stop act equally upon both of the supports the stop is slotted at one end, and through the slot H is passed a headed pin, screw, or bolt, 1, which causes the two supports to always move in and out in a straight line with each other. The end of the expanding rod or bar strikes against this support and limits the distance that the bar shall move. Were it not for the slotted stop, the links would allow one of the supports to drop downward and out of line with the other, and hence its operation would never be reliable. To the endwise-moving bar may be attached a handle or projection, J, of any kind, against which one of the fingers may be made to catch while the thumb is bearing against the slotted stop, and thus expand the two supports. This handle serves as a means for opening and closing the device when placed inside of a tile. If so desired, one or both ends of the stop may be made to project beyond one or both of the supports any desired distance, and thus regulate the distance that the supports shall be forced into the tile. If these supports are to be made the same length as the tile, these ends need not be made to project; but if the WVhen the supports are to be made shorter than the tile the stops will prevent the supports from being forced inward beyond a certain point. After the tile has been cut off it is only necessary to place the supports inside of the tile in their contracted position and then pull upward upon the handle, so as to force the contracting bar endwise, when the two supports will closely fit inside of the tile, and thus enable it to be freely handled for any purpose.

This device is equally applicable for sewerpipes as for draining-tiles.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the two supports, an expanding-bar placed between them, the connecting-links, and a stop which is secured to one end of one of the supports, substantially as described.

2. The combination of two supports, an expanding-bar placed between them, connecting-links, and a stop which is secured rigidly to one of the supports and to which the other support is inovably attached, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the two supports, an expanding-bar, the connecting-links, and a stop which is loosely attached to one of the supports and rigidly secured to the other and which is made to project at one of its ends beyond one of the supports, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN LAUGHLIN.

Witnesses:

A. H. HARRIS, F. A. LEHMANN. 

